I don't know that I have a "grail Rivendell." I do know that I want a Clem somethin' fierce, or even better a Platy set up pretty much the same way, but sprightlier and prettier. I was, and am, deeply into what the various sporting road Rivs had going on, when they still made that kind of bike. They don't, really, but others do... Mercian, for example, just got saved from the grave, and slots into a similar niche.
The pretty, sporting, mostly-fun-with-a-bit-of-practical, lightweight, several-purpose production road bike isn't dead, and Rivendell gets a lot of the credit for that being true... even if they don't make a bike like that anymore. They did it when basically nobody else was, and now that several people are, they don't really need to anymore. Still, I will one day own a sporting road Rivendell, because that's what I've wanted since I first became aware of their existence about 25 years ago. --Shannon On Friday, August 1, 2025 at 12:02:55 PM UTC-7 Mackenzy Albright wrote: > I remember seeing Dominic's orange Clementine posted and absolutely fell > in love. I didn't think I would ever find one, nor really tried. I snagged > a newer Clem Jr. I decided to sell off my Crust Romanceur I, to my delight, > was offered a 59 clementine in orange on trade! The deal nearly fell > through due to some cracking on the bent tube - only to realize it's the > really really really horrible thick paint. > > It probably took me 3 years to track down an affordable Clem from when I > decided it might be the way to go - another year before I was offered the > clementine non trade on a fluke. So probably only 4-5 years? My only regret > is not getting a Rivendell sooner. The Orange Clementine is my all time > favorite bike Rivendell has produced, probably only seconded by the > Hunqapillar. I like the tighter wheelbase and deep orange and blue > lettering. It just really hits the spot. The new Clem's FEEL great - and > even had an orange run - but the clementine just is a little tighter to my > liking. > > On Thursday, July 31, 2025 at 5:37:46 PM UTC-7 RichS wrote: > >> My grail Rivendell is the 2014 Sam Hillborne. I knew it would be a keeper >> early on. Still exceedingly pleased with it. Previous Rivs have been an >> Atlantis, Rodeo, Clem (H model), and Taiwan built Homer. >> >> Best, >> Rich in ATL >> >> On Thursday, July 31, 2025 at 2:02:43 PM UTC-4 [email protected] >> wrote: >> >>> Finding my grail Rivendell took virtually no time at all. I heard about >>> Rivendell from a wise friend. I appreciated the aesthetic immediately. I >>> sat on a Hillborne in a shop. It felt so right that I bought one as soon as >>> feasible. That was 2010. It has always been and is still my primary bike >>> today. (My secondary bike has been a 2012 Hillborne of different color but >>> pretty much identical.) >>> >>> Obviously I was pretty lucky. Had I sat on a different Rivendell model >>> would I have had the same response? Maybe, maybe not. Maybe I would have >>> rushed out, spent far too much money on something not as perfect for me as >>> a Hillborne, and spent the remainder of my years on the edge of poverty, >>> buying/building-up frame after frame, seeking perfection that, once missed, >>> may have not been obtainable in the wake of the trauma of initial failure. >>> >>> Yours, >>> Thomas Lynn Skean >>> >>> On Saturday, July 26, 2025 at 1:01:40 PM UTC-5 [email protected] >>> wrote: >>> >>>> I know I am looking for a unicorn: a Hunq or Bomba in the 56-58cm >>>> range, so it seems to be taking a long time which is fine. The search has >>>> become a bit of a fun hobby in itself and I have no shortage of other >>>> bikes >>>> to ride so I'm ok there too... >>>> >>>> But I am curious, for others who have looked for and eventually found >>>> their "grail" Riv. What was your experience like? How long did it take? >>>> Did >>>> you get lucky and find something quick? Or did it take weeks, months, >>>> years >>>> or searching? Did anyone give up and go with a different model? Or >>>> something slightly too big or small that they regret buying? Anyone end up >>>> getting a completely different bike all together? Share your quest for >>>> your >>>> dream bike! >>>> >>>> -Joe >>>> >>> -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/b42c883c-478b-40a3-85e4-54ea180badben%40googlegroups.com.
